Federal data
Highest earning certificate cosmetology programs in California
California cosmetology programs, ranked by median earnings one year after completion, from the College Scorecard field-of-study file (September 18, 2026). Only programs with at least 30 counted graduates in the earnings sample are shown, and at least 5 programs must qualify for this list to exist.
| Rank | School | City | Sector | Median earnings, 1 year after | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose | San Jose | For-profit, under 2-year | $24,660 | 134 |
| 2 | MTI College | Sacramento | For-profit, 2-year | $21,371 | 138 |
| 3 | Shasta School of Cosmetology | Redding | For-profit, under 2-year | $20,144 | 39 |
| 4 | California College of Barbering and Cosmetology | Stockton | For-profit, under 2-year | $20,065 | 104 |
| 5 | Paul Mitchell the School-Modesto | Modesto | For-profit, under 2-year | $20,060 | 271 |
| 6 | Hoss Lee Academy | Roseville | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,797 | 67 |
| 7 | Paul Mitchell the School | Truckee | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,523 | 134 |
| 8 | San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc | San Francisco | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,002 | 154 |
| 9 | Moler Barber College | Oakland | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,947 | 124 |
| 10 | American Beauty College | West Covina | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,085 | 66 |
| 11 | J D Academy of Salon and Spa | Danville | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,059 | 104 |
| 12 | Paul Mitchell the School-East Bay | Pleasant Hill | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,858 | 127 |
| 13 | Bellus Academy | Poway | For-profit, 2-year | $17,745 | 414 |
| 14 | Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy | Santa Fe Springs | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,655 | 37 |
| 15 | Cinta Aveda Institute | San Francisco | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,592 | 197 |
| 16 | Los Angeles College of Aesthetics | Los Angeles | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,507 | 140 |
| 17 | Santa Ana Beauty Academy | Santa Ana | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,413 | 54 |
| 18 | Palomar Institute of Cosmetology | San Marcos | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,219 | 98 |
| 19 | North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc | Modesto | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,084 | 74 |
| 20 | Federico Beauty Institute | Sacramento | For-profit, under 2-year | $16,940 | 355 |
| 21 | San Bernardino Beauty College | San Bernardino | For-profit, under 2-year | $16,767 | 32 |
| 22 | Blake Austin College | Vacaville | For-profit, 2-year | $16,650 | 69 |
| 23 | Design's School of Cosmetology | Paso Robles | For-profit, under 2-year | $16,533 | 94 |
| 24 | Salon Success Academy | Upland | For-profit, under 2-year | $16,526 | 232 |
Earnings cover federally aided graduates only, as published by College Scorecard.
How to read this. A smaller program can show a high or low figure from just a few graduates, and this earnings figure only ever covers students who received federal aid, so it does not describe every graduate.